How to read the volume meter
The meter shows your microphone's input level as a percentage of the maximum the device can capture. While you speak at a normal distance (10–30 cm for a headset, up to about 50 cm for a laptop), aim for peaks in the middle of the scale:
| Peak level | Verdict | What to do |
|---|
| 0% — flat line | No signal | Wrong device selected, mic muted by a hardware switch, input volume set to 0 in the OS, or another app holds the mic. See the troubleshooting list below. |
| 1% – 15% | Too quiet | You'll be hard to hear on calls. Move closer to the mic and raise the input volume in your OS sound settings (Windows: Settings → Sound → Input; macOS: System Settings → Sound → Input). |
| 15% – 85% | Good | Healthy speech level — voice apps will transmit you loud and clear. Most well-configured mics peak around 40–80% during normal speech. |
| 85% – 100%, red "CLIP" | Too loud | The signal hits the ceiling and distorts. Move back a little or lower the input gain — clipping sounds crackly and harsh to everyone on the call. |
The loudness (dB) readout shows the same signal on the decibel scale audio engineers use: −∞ dB is silence, around −30 to −10 dB is typical speech, and 0 dB is the absolute digital ceiling. The max peak value remembers the loudest moment of your test, which is handy for catching short plosive pops ("p", "b") that clip even when the average level looks fine.
Mic test for Zoom, Teams, Discord and Google Meet
This page requests microphone access exactly the same way Zoom (web), Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Discord do — so it's a fast, neutral way to find out whether a "they can't hear me" problem is your hardware or the app:
- Meter moves here, app silent? The mic and permissions are fine — the app is listening to the wrong input. Select the same device inside the app: Zoom — Settings → Audio → Microphone; Teams — Settings → Devices; Discord — User Settings → Voice & Video; Meet — gear icon → Audio.
- Nothing moves here either? The problem sits below the apps: permissions, OS privacy settings, a hardware mute switch or the device itself. Work through the troubleshooting list below.
- You're audible but quiet or robotic? Record a clip here and listen. Quiet means low input gain; robotic or underwater usually means a struggling Bluetooth connection — try switching the headset to its cable or re-pairing.
Doing this check before a meeting takes ten seconds and saves the classic first minute of "can you hear me now?" — bookmark the page if you join calls daily.
Microphone not working? Fix it step by step
- Allow the browser permission. If you clicked Block earlier, the prompt won't reappear — click the lock (or camera/mic) icon at the left of the address bar and set Microphone to Allow, then reload the page.
- Pick the right device. Laptops often expose 2–4 inputs (built-in, headset, virtual cable, "Stereo Mix"). Try each one in the device list above while watching the meter.
- Check the hardware mute. Most headsets have a mute switch on the cable or earcup; many laptops use an Fn key with a crossed-out mic icon that mutes at the hardware level — the browser cannot see or undo it.
- Raise input volume from 0. Windows: Settings → System → Sound → Input → Volume (a level of 0 is a surprisingly common find). macOS: System Settings → Sound → Input slider.
- Unblock browsers in OS privacy settings. Windows 10/11: Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone — both "Microphone access" and "Let desktop apps access" must be on. macOS: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone — your browser needs a checkmark.
- Close apps that hold the mic exclusively. Some recording software, virtual-mic drivers and conferencing apps grab the device so nothing else can open it — quit them and restart the test.
- Reconnect Bluetooth headsets. A headset connected only with the "music" (A2DP) profile has no working mic; remove the device and pair it again so the hands-free profile activates.
If the meter still stays flat with every device after all seven steps, test the microphone on another computer or phone — at that point the evidence says hardware, not settings.
Mic test FAQ
How do I test if my microphone is working?
Click Start mic test and allow microphone access. Speak normally — if the volume meter moves and the waveform follows your voice, the mic works. For a complete check, record a short clip and play it back: that verifies the whole chain the way Zoom or Discord uses it.
How can I hear myself through my microphone?
Start the test and switch on "Hear yourself" — the page routes your mic to your output in real time. Wear headphones: with loudspeakers the mic picks up its own output and creates feedback. A few milliseconds of delay is normal system buffering, not a fault.
Why is my mic not working or not detected?
The usual suspects: browser permission denied (allow it via the lock icon in the address bar), wrong input device selected, a hardware mute switch, another app holding the mic exclusively, or OS privacy settings blocking browsers (Windows: Settings → Privacy → Microphone; macOS: Privacy & Security → Microphone).
Is this mic test safe — is my voice recorded or uploaded?
Yes. Everything runs locally in your browser via the Web Audio API. Nothing is uploaded; the optional recording lives only in your browser's memory and disappears when you close the tab — unless you download it yourself. No sign-up, no servers.
How do I test my mic for Zoom, Teams or Discord?
Run this test first — it uses the same browser mic access those apps use. If the meter moves here, hardware and permissions are fine; then select the same device inside the app (Zoom: Settings → Audio; Teams: Settings → Devices; Discord: Voice & Video). If the meter moves here but the app is silent, the app is on the wrong input.
Why is my mic volume so low?
Move closer (10–20 cm for headsets) and raise the input level: Windows — Settings → System → Sound → Input → Volume; macOS — System Settings → Sound → Input. Laptop mics are quiet by design. If the meter barely reaches the good zone at normal speech, the OS input gain is the fix.